Plant and Equipment safety - Flinders University Staff

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The University has a primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that plant and equipment is without risk to the health and safety of any person.

Plant is defined as any machinery, equipment, appliance, container, implement and tool, and includes any component or anything fitted or connected to any of those things. Plant and equipment includes many things for example lifts, cranes, machinery, conveyors, forklifts, vehicles, power tools, welding equipment and amusement devices.

The Plant and Equipment Safety Procedures sets out the requirements when using plant in University activities. When working with plant and equipment involving electricity, the electrical safety procedures must be read and implemented to ensure the University's electrical safety requirements are met. All items must be in good condition and in test and tag date.

Note: Plant or equipment that relies exclusively on manual power for its operation and which is designed to be supported primarily by hand (e.g. a screwdriver) is not covered by WHS regulations. However the general duty of care under WHS legislation applies to this type of plant.

Managing the risks

Plant and equipment that introduces a risk into the workplace must be assessed and managed in accordance with the University’s WHS Risk Management Procedures. The plant risk assessment process must consider all stages of the plant/ equipment life cycle.

The Manager/ Supervisor responsible for the plant or equipment must make sure that a risk assessment is conducted and documented where it is identified that controls are required to be implemented.

Legislative Controls

Controls to manage risk for certain types of hazardous plant are identified under WHS Legislation (e.g. forklift, cranes, lifting equipment).

Reference should also be made to the Code of Practice Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace as a practical guide for achieving the standards of health and safety required under WHS legislation. In most cases, following the Code of Practice will achieve compliance with the health and safety duties of WHS legislation. However, compliance may also be achieved by following other methods, such as technical or industry standards, so long as these provide an equivalent or higher standard of work health and safety than the Code.

Registration and Licencing

Some high-risk plant must also be registered with the regulator. In addition certain kinds of plant, such as forklifts and cranes, require users to have a high risk work license to operate.

See the relevant Regulator web site for details - SafeWork SA or NT WorkSafe.

Appendix B of the Code of Practice Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace lists the plant that must be registered.

All Radiation apparatus has registration and licensing requirements with the EPA. Please see Radiation (Ionising) - Flinders University Staff for required details.

Permits and Permission to Proceed

Where work with plant involves confined spaces, working at heights, excavation, service isolation, hot work or asbestos the operator must apply for a University Work Permit/ Permission to Proceed.

Purchasing equipment

Many injuries and illnesses associated with plant occur due to a failure to select the right equipment for the job. Before you purchase plant, check it is suitable for the intended use, including the environment it will be used in and the workers using it.

Before you purchase plant you need to identify the hazards and risks associated with the installation, operation, inspection, maintenance, repair, transport, storage and dismantling of the plant/equipment.

The pre-purchase and commissioning checklist is provided to help in determining these hazards.

Disposal of Equipment

Plant must be decommissioned and/or dismantled by a competent person.

Any hazards (e.g. exposure to hazardous substances, electricity, pressure, radiation sources, stored kinetic energy) in the decommissioning and dismantling of plant must be identified, risk assessed and controlled.

Before disposal or transfer of ownership of plant, the Disposal of Plant / Acceptance Conditions of Plant form must be used to record the details.